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Home › Baby Names Directory › Nishan

Nishan

♂ Boy

Pronounced nih-SHAHN /nɪˈʃɑːn/Medium

Meaning: From the Armenian Nishan, 'sign; mark; token,' and separately the Punjabi nishan, 'sign; banner,' as in the Sikh Nishan Sahib. Two honored routes meet here.Low

In 30 seconds: A meaningful name: Nishan means 'sign; mark; token' in Armenian, and names the Sikh banner in Punjabi (said 'nih-SHAHN'). Two routes, both honored.
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Origin LowArmenian, Punjabi
MeaningFrom the Armenian Nishan, 'sign; mark; token,' and separately the Punjabi nishan, 'sign; banner,' as in the Sikh Nishan Sahib. Two honored routes meet here.
U.S. rank (2023)#9494 ↘ Falling
2023 U.S. births8 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2010
Total births (all-time)≈ 365

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201019242023

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Nishan is Armenian for 'sign; mark; token' and Punjabi for 'sign; banner,' as in the Sikh Nishan Sahib. Both routes are meaningful, which we note — a strong, uncommon name, rare in the U.S. (said 'nih-SHAHN').

It appears extremely rarely for boys in the U.S. Rare, meaningful, and cross-cultural.

Did you know? Nishan means 'sign; mark; token' in Armenian and, in Punjabi, gives its name to the Nishan Sahib, the Sikh flag — a name carried honorably in more than one tradition (said 'nih-SHAHN').
Overall data confidence 45%
References — Nishan — Armenian 'sign; mark' / Punjabi nishan (Sikh Nishan Sahib)

Variations

NishaanNissanNichan

Nicknames

NishShan

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Nishan…

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Sarkis— a like Armenian classic
Gagan— a like Punjabi name
Kiran— a like cross-cultural pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Nishan mean?

Nishan is Armenian for 'sign; mark; token' and Punjabi for 'sign; banner' (the Sikh Nishan Sahib). Both routes are honored, which we note.

How do you pronounce Nishan?

It's said nih-SHAHN /nɪˈʃɑːn/ — two syllables, stress on the last.

Is Nishan a boy or girl name?

Nishan is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Nishan?

Nishan is an extremely rare name in the U.S.

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